Foundations of Infant and Maternal Mental Health

In this course, counselling psychologist Dr. Cirecie West-Olatunji (Ph.D., LPC, NCC; CEO of CREST; founding Director, Center for Traumatic Stress Research at Xavier University, Louisiana) introduces a culturally responsive, trauma-informed framework for understanding and supporting the mental health of infants and mothers during the perinatal period. Drawing on decades of clinical experience, research, and interdisciplinary collaboration, Dr. West-Olatunji explores how maternal distress impacts foetal development, infant attachment, and child emotional regulation. Participants will examine attachment typologies, racial disparities in care, trauma responses in infants, and protective factors across individual, familial, and community domains. <br><br>This course highlights practical assessment tools, case illustrations, and systems-level advocacy, empowering clinicians to enhance their effectiveness in working with this vulnerable population. It is part one in a two-part series on this topic; the second course is titled <a href="/catalogue/courses/perinatal-mental-health-culturally-responsive-strategies-for-intervention-and-support" target="_blank">Perinatal Mental Health: Culturally Responsive Strategies for Intervention and Support</a>.